Residents urge county to follow Effingham's lead on data centers; however, county has no authority
The Effingham City Council enacted a one-year moratorium on data centers to allow time to adopt new regulations. Following this, residents urged the Effingham County Board to implement a similar pause, but were informed the county lacks the authority due to not having zoning.
The Effingham City Council recently passed a one-year moratorium on new applications and permits for cryptocurrency mines, data centers, and similar facilities within city limits and a surrounding mile-and-a-half area. This pause is intended to provide city officials with time to develop and adopt new rules, procedures, and regulations for such developments.
Following the city's decision, two residents, including Altamont resident Nicholas Tkachuk, appealed to the Effingham County Board's Administrative Committee, urging them to enact a similar moratorium. However, Effingham County Board Chairman Joshua Douthit, with board members David Campbell and Sandi Rich present, informed the residents that the county lacks the necessary zoning authority to implement such a measure, and therefore cannot follow the city's lead.